Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have filed an action seeking the forfeiture of six properties, with a total value of around $75 million, which U.S. authorities believe are owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. The properties are located in New York, Southampton, and Fisher Island in Florida, and are allegedly linked to income received by Vekselberg through sanctions circumvention and money laundering. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the move, following charges against Vekselberg’s business partner, Vladimir Voronchenko, who U.S. officials say was attempting to help Vekselberg evade restrictions. Last year, Voronchenko was subpoenaed but fled to Moscow via Dubai. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges that Voronchenko paid bills for Vekselberg’s American real estate after the businessman fell under sanctions in 2018, totaling $4 million. Voronchenko also allegedly tried to sell several of Vekselberg’s houses on his own behalf. According to the investigation, from 2008 to 2017, Vekselberg acquired U.S. real estate and paid for its upkeep through front companies, with around 90 bank transfers totaling approximately $18.5 million.

Vekselberg was placed under U.S. sanctions on April 6, 2018, but denied any involvement in Russia’s integration of Crimea and purported Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections.

In a separate case, U.S. authorities have accused Oleg Tinkov, another Russian billionaire and former owner of Tinkoff Bank, of fraud. Additionally, billionaire Vasily Anisimov, owner of Coalco development company, recently renounced his Russian citizenship and moved to Switzerland, becoming the sixth Russian oligarch to do so.